An injury that comes at a bad time. Particularly in form with FC Barcelona at the start of the season, Frenke de Jong had to stop abruptly due to a major ankle sprain three weeks ago. After missing his team’s last four matches, and withdrawing from the Netherlands during this international break, the midfielder should not return until November. He is very uncertain for the reception of Real Madrid on October 28. A real setback for the man who was named vice-captain at the start of the season by Xavi.
The coach still trusts him. The proof is that he asked to extend the Batave, whose contract ends in 2026. Discussions for a two-year extension of his lease are still underway, but they have been put on hold for good reason . After accepting salary deferrals during the covid period, De Jong has recovered all of his emoluments since the start of last season, i.e. €18 million per year (€19 million even for the next two years of his contract). This is where the problem lies. If Barça wanted to get rid of him during the last transfer windows, it is for this reason.
De Jong refused a 2nd salary deferral
This would have avoided the Catalan entity having to pay him part of the assets granted by the 26-year-old player. Sport obtained De Jong’s contract and revealed important information. The Dutchman had agreed for the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons to be paid like a player who had just started in the first team. He received €960,000 the first year, €1,250,000 the second, before returning to the salary that had been agreed upon when he signed in the summer of 2019, i.e. €18 million, plus bonuses. A little bad at the time, De Jong refused a second postponement in recent months, for which he risks paying a little dearly.
He had wanted to obtain bonuses in return for his salary reductions: €2.8 million between 2021 and 2023, then €6.8 million for the current season, €4.2 million in 2024/2025 and €4 million for the last year of his contract. In the event of departure before the end of his adventure, the bonuses jumped, hence the desire to transfer him, notably to Manchester United in the summer of 2022 then 2023, which the player did not want. Because it is this season that De Jong is costing Barça the most: €18 million in salary, plus €6.8 million in bonuses, to which must be added €2 million in variables depending on the matches played, he who is holder…
It will cost Barça €26.8 million this season
For this 2023/2024 financial year, the Blaugranas will pay him no less than €26.8 million. This is a financial pit for a club still limited by the salary cap set by La Liga. “We had the opportunity to sell Frenkie de Jong for €100m but we didn’t do it. We could not accept this offer under these conditions because Frenkie is a key player in the team., defended Joan Laporta this Saturday during the club’s general meeting. For Sport, however, this is the reason which is currently scuppering the negotiations for an extension. A 2nd postponement would have allowed Barça to breathe a little more…
